Leipzig stage second half comeback to defeat Zenit 2-1

RB Leipzig came from a goal down to beat visitors Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 on Wednesday and take back control of Champions League Group G.
The hosts, who had lost to Olympique Lyonnais in the previous matchday, almost scored after one minute when Konrad Laimer’s shot was tipped on to the crossbar by the Zenit keeper.
But it was the visitors who struck first and against the run of play when Yaroslav Rakitskyy chested down a lose ball and released from 25 metres to beat Leipzig’s goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in the 25th minute.
The hosts, who came from a four-game winless run in all competitions, shot out of the blocks after the break and within 15 minutes had turned the match around.
Laimer made amends for his earlier miss scoring from a Marcel Sabitzer assist in the 49th.
Sabitzer then turned scorer, rifling in an unstoppable shot into the top corner for what could well be the goal of the matchday in the 59th minute.
The Russians came close to an equaliser but substitute Yordan Osorio sent his shot over the bar from ten metres out.
Matheus Cunha was even more wasteful for Leipzig when he twice had only keeper Mikhail Kerzhakov to beat and both times missed the target.
Leipzig are now top of Group G on six points from three matches, two ahead of Zenit and Lyon, who lost to Benfica 1-2 in the group’s other match on Wednesday.